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Saturday, October 27, 2007

EU unveils Blue Cards for immigrants

BASED ON the United States Green Card, the EU (European Union) has unveiled a Blue Card for skilled immigrants aiming to attract top talents to the European Union to combat the problems related to the ageing population and declining birth rate. The Card will help skilled workers, including engineers, IT experts, MBAs, doctors, nurses and legal experts to travel and work in any country within the European Union. This is a great move indeed!

Unveiling the Blue Card, European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom, and Security, Franco Frattini, told the media that the card would entitle migrants with more than three years’ work experience or a university degree to work in a member state under the “fast-track” immigration reforms. They will also be allowed to bring in their families after six months of their migration.

It is observed that the EU currently trails behind the United States and Canada in attracting overseas talent. With the issuing of Blue Cards, the EU hopes to attract more skilled immigrants to the member countries, thus making the 27-member bloc more economically competitive.

Specially directed towards Asia and Africa, these Blue Cards will definitely give an edge to the willing migrants to move to their favourite destinations and settle down there. Until now, skilled people from these regions used to go to America and Britain more than any other country in the world.

According to Mark Mardell of BBC, “the proposal is controversial and some countries are sure to oppose it.” British ministers say that they are studying the different facets of the Blue Card, but reportedly they are not keen on the card, preferring to develop an Australian-style points system. Some politicians in the Netherlands and Germany are also hostile and the Austrian government has condemned the plan as ‘a centralisation too far’.

As of now, we would have to wait for some more time to know about the complete picture of the Blue Cards. For now, it is good news for the Indian brains that are planning to migrate to any EU member county and settle down there.

By Shekharjyoti Kalita

Source : http://www.merinews.com/

Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

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